F. William (Bill) Spindler died peacefully on September 21, 2010 at the age of 91 years. He looked forward to a great reunion in heaven with his beloved wife, Faye Spindler, his son, Jim Spindler, and his granddaughter, Claire Spindler-Richardson. Bill loved his family and will be greatly missed by his daughters Linda McCombs and husband Mike, Elaine Kerr and husband Mike, Pat Spindler and husband Bob Threadgill, Pam Spindler and husband Terry Barks, Beth Spindler and husband Kevin Richardson, and his daughter-in-law, Patsy Spindler (Jim’s wife) . He was a proud and loving grandfather to his ten grandchildren — Kelly, Kara, Susan, Matt, Mindy, Jessie, Emily, Blythe, Paige and Jason — and to his five great grandchildren, Khia, Jared, Zaden, Coll and Noah.
Bill was an inspiration and comfort to many people in his ministry and dedication to God. He began his ministry work in 1941 as a missionary in the American Sunday School Union and traveled throughout Douglas, Ozark and Wright counties to establish church services where there were none. He graduated from Asbury College, a seminary in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1947 and continued his ministry work in Ava until 1955 when the family moved to Springfield where he was appointed pastor of First Methodist Church and later was the founding pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church.
Bill became a part-time chaplain for Burge Protestant Hospital (now Cox Health Systems) in 1958. In 1962, he established the first chaplaincy program for the hospital. He retired after 25 years of service as a hospital chaplain. He was honored with the Distinguished Service Award of the College of Chaplains, a national recognition. During his retirement, he continued to provide comfort and support for friends and family who needed a kind word and a prayer.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Friday, October 1st in the Fountain Plaza Room of Cox North Hospital. No flowers please. Memorials can be made to the charity of one’s choice.